SCL | Studio Cáceres Lazo

SCL is a boutique architecture practice based in Santiago de Chile and founded by Daniel Lazo and Gabriel Caceres in 2012.

ABOUT OUR DESIGN

We approach design as an editing process: a search for the essential elements involved in communicating an idea, from the conceptual to technical. It involves constant revising and excision of the dispensable. Because of this, our work is often painstakingly detailed, aiming not only for our design solutions to look simple, but to be simple in their manufacture. We strive for the skillful elegance of professional athletes, able to achieve multiple goals with a single movement. Our pursuit with this approach is a raw, abstract design quality. A sort of nakedness.

ABOUT OUR WORK

Our main interests lay within the realm of the city and urban life as a social construct: density as a tool for shaping it, public space as a place of social engagement and friction, public-private relationships and all the in-betweens. Santiago is an interesting case study for us in that sense, as it’s going through an accelerated process of change without a clear model for the city it wants to be, but with a lot of room for improvement. As a byproduct, our work is not bound to any specific architectural scale or niche.

Our current projects range from a large-scale mixed-use complex in the heart of Barrio Italia, Santiago’s design district; to a family residence in the outskirts of the city.

ABOUT US

Gabriel Caceres (1979) graduated from the Architecture School of Universidad de Chile (2006), and has a Master of Architecture in Collective Housing from Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Spain (2009).

Gabriel won the Yumbel Social Housing project in Biobío, Chile (2011) through public competition working with AMDEL (The Association of Municipalities for Local Development) in the design of a self-construction housing initiative. With Paula Rojas, as associate architects of P&G architects, he developed the design scheme for the headquarters of Preunic, Santiago de Chile (2010). With architect Sebastian Bravo he designed and renovated the BIOTEC factory in Renca, Santiago (2010). Through private commission he restored a heritage residence in Wisbaden, Germany (2009).

Daniel Lazo (1981) graduated from the Architecture School of Universidad de Chile (2006). Since 2016 he teaches second year Architecture Design Studio at Universidad San Sebastian.

Daniel designed the Faculty of Sciences building for Universidad Austral in Valdivia, Chile as Associate Architect of Tidy Architects, a project won through public competition (2009-2011). He was a finalist of the International competition “Espacio para la Memoria del Poeta Pablo Neruda” in Cantalao, Isla Negra (2008) and won second prize in the public competition “Intervencion Costanera Norte” sponsored by the Chilean Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Santiago de Chile (2007). His work has appeared in multiple national and international publications.